Trap for catching and electrocuting rats.



M. GOLD. TRAP FOR OATOHING AND ELECiTROGUTING RATS.

APPLICATION FILED AU[L30,1911. 1,012,35 1 Patented Dec.19,191l.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J1 1 amp I I 1 14 15 M i j FIG. 2 m

INVENTOR. Marz'anGold ATTORNEY? M. GOLD.

TRAP FOB. GATOHING AND ELBCTRODUTING RATS.

APILIOATIDK FILED AUG. 30, 1911.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

2 SHEBTBSHEBT 2.

m 0 m W MM WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

passes out of contact MARION GOLD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRAP FOB CATCHING AND ELECTBJQGUTING BATS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION GOLD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traps forCatching and Electrocutin Rats or other Rodents, of which the fol owingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawing.

My invention relates to improvements in traps for catching andelectrocuting rats or other rodents.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device of this character inwhich'the rodent is automatically dro ped onto the electrodes of anormally bro en circuit and from such electrodes its weight, suchpassage resetting the e ectrodes ready for the next rodent; to provide adevice of this character in which'a plurality of entrances are (providedand each of which is adapted to eposit the rodent onto an electrocutindevice common to all entrances and whic will automatically discharge therodents therefrom and pass into position ready for the succeedingrodent; to provide a device of this character in which the catching andelectrocuting portion of the apparatus is bodily removable from areceptacle for the electrocuted rodents, the latter having means forclosing the receptacle at will and permitting the removal therefromwithout disturbin the elements or ,electrical connections 0% thecatching and electrocuting portion with respect to each other.

' Other and further objects are to provide a device which is simple andefficient in operation, durable in construction, which is not liable toget out of order and which can be operated at a minimum expense.

To these and other ends, the natureof which will be readily understoodas the in vention is hereinafter disclosed, my invention consists in theimproved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully anyingdescribed, illustrated in the accom out in drawings, and articularlypointe the appended c aims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate similar parts in each of the views-Figure 1 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view taken Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fled Augult :30, 1911.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Serial No. 846,879. I

on the line 1--1 of Fig. 3, with parts shown in side elevation andshowing thepreferred embodiment of my invention. Fig/2 is a horizontalsectional view of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fi 4is a face view of one of the supports 0 the rotatable electrode, showinvarious positions of the latter in use. 'g. 5 is a detail perspectiveview of parts shown in Fig. 4.

The present invention embodies mainly three parts, viz., that portionwithin whic the rodent enters and which contains the bait; the portioncontainin the electrocuting elements in the form 0 electrodes, and thereceptacle within which the electrocuted rodents pass, these parts beinglocated one above the other so that the weight of the rodent practicallycarries him from the entering portion through the electrocuting partinto the receptacle. Of these parts, the first and second may be formedas a unitary structure or separable, the third, however, being in theform of a receptacle, indicated at 10, having a lid 11 preferablyslidable to open and close the receptacle, and having means forattachment to the first two parts, such as cars 12, andmeans for movingthe rece tacle about, as, for instance, handles 13. T e first and secondportions are arranged to be seated on the top of the receptacle 10,having complemental cars 14 adapted to receive securin devices 15, bymeans of which the receptac e and the other portions are movabl securedtogether, it being understood t at the particular manner in which thesecuring means is provided is immaterial, the essential being that theparts above the receptacle may be removably secured thereto in fixedposition and capable of removal to permit the receptacle to be emlpgiedof its contents. above pointed" out, portions may'have their casings inthe form of a unitary structure or'be separate and secured together insuitable manner, the drawings showing these parts as unitary. The-upperportion of the casing has its opposite ends provided with o enin 16which form the entrance for t e r ents, said openings being positionedat a suitable point, either on approximately the level of the first andsecond the portion below the entrance will be housed below the floorlevel), or the openings may be positioned above the floor level andsuitable runways, indicated diagrammatically at 17, provided for thepassage of the rodent to the entrance. At a suitable point intermediatethe ends of the casing, I provide a division of suitable ty e, such as amirror 18, above which I pre erably arrange the bait chamber 19 having aremovable lid 20, the chamber 19 being exposed to the opposite sides ofthe division member 18 through suitable openings 21. The space on theopposite sides of the division menber 18 may be termed the entrancechambers, the floors of which comprise the fixed portions 22 and thetilting portions 23, the latter being pivoted to t e under face ofthevfixed portions and normally retained in position by means ofsuitable weights 24, the latter being insufiicient to retain theplatform formed by the tilting portion 23 against tiltin whenever arodent passes onto this portion.

For the purpose of preventing the rodent from returning when theplatform is moving, I preferably provide each entrance chamber with aswinging door 25 which has one end connected to the weight support insuch manner that upon tilting of the platform 23, the door 25 will bemoved downward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,practically preventing the rodent from passing out of the chamber afterit has reached the platform 23.

The platforzrs 23 are adapted to operate between walls 26 extendinglongitudinally of the casing, said walls practically forming a channelor passage-way through which the rodent is required to pass after theplatform begins its movement. This channel or passage-way is locateddirectly above two rot-atable members each of which forms an electrode,and each of which is preferably positioned so as to have the fingers ofthe electrodes (presently described) which extend vertically, insubstantial vertical alinement with the walls 26, so that the channel orpassage-way is practically continuous through the electrode mechanism.

Each electrode is in the form of a shaft 27 having a plurality offingers 28 extending substantially at right angles to each other, theends of the shaft being mounted in bearings, one of which is in the formof a block 29 to which one of the circuit connections. indicated as 30,is led, said connection leading the circuit to a spring member 31 whichis adapted to contact with a suit able member, such as a block 32carried by the shaft 27, the block 32 forming the means for carrying thecurrent from the circuit connection 30 to the fingers 28 which form thespecific electrodes, the shaft. fingers and block being of suitableconductive material preferably of angular shape by the channel betweenso as to provide for eillcient service, it being understood that theblock 29 is preferably of insulating material. The block 32 is andpreferably has its corners rounded, this construction providing for anormal positioning of the shaft so as to have one set of fingersextending horizontally directly in the path formed the platforms and thereceptacle, the adjacent fingers extending vertically and, as heretoforepointed out, practically forming a continuation of the walls 26. Theopposite end' of each shaft is mounted in a suitable bearing 33.

The two shafts are positioned spacedapart so that the horizontallyext-ending fingers of one shaft will extend between the horizontalfingers of the adjacent shaft, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 2, theposition of the fingers being preferably such that the horizontalfingers of one shaft will be opposed by the vertical fingers of theadjacent shaft; it will be understood, however, that this is notabsolutely essential, any preferred arrangement which will provide forthe operation of the electrodes in the manner to be described, beingwithin the purview of my invention.

The source of electrical supply, indicated conventionally by the battery34, is connected up to the blocks 29 so that the circuit is normallybroken, there being no point in the operation of the electrodes at whichthey may come in physical contact so as to complete the circuit. \Vhen arodent is deposited by either platform 23 and passes through thechannels provided by the walls 26, it falls onto the horizontallyextending fingers which project toward each other, and closes thecircuit between the two electrodes,which results in the electrocution ofthe rodent. Inasmuch, however, as the position of the fingers ismaintained only through the pressure of the contact member or spring 31on the flat face of the block 32, which pressure is insufiicieht toovercome the weight of the rodent, the latter will cause both shafts tobe rotated on their axes and permit the rodent to be dropped out betweenthem," this movement carrying the block 32 around sufficiently to havethe contact fingers or spring 31 pass beyond the rounded corner,whereupon the pressure of the spring will in the same direction to placethe next set of fingers in position ready for the reception of therodent, the electrocuted rodent drop ing into the receptacle, the lid ofwhic when the apparatus is in operative position, remaining open.

By this construction it will be readily understood that the weight ofthe rodent forms the actuating means by which it is delivered to anddischarged fromthe electrocuting device provided by the rotatableelectrodes,

cause a sufficient movement practically limiting the period of time durmg which the rodent may remain in position to close the circuit and,therefore, economizing'in the amount of current employed; furthermore,the trap is substantially in ever-set condition, ready for the entranceand electrocution of the rodent, while the electrocuted rodents areautomatically de posited in a receptacle from which they may be readilyremoved by simply disconnecting the casing containing the electrocutindevices from the rece tacle, this remove not allecting the electricalconnect-ions in any manner. In addition, the particular construction issuch that there is no requirement of expensive mechanism for the purposeof bringing the rodent into the electrocuting structure nor for removingit therefrom. 1

Theshowin of the source of electrical supply is simp y diagrammatic, itbeing understood that any suitable source may be employed for theurpose, such, for instance, as the ordinary ighting circuits, etc., andit will also be understood that, while the particular way in which Icarry the current to the electrodes and for positioning the electrodesin their proper relationship is that preferred by me, it will be readilyunderstood that variations and modifications therein, as well as inother portions of the mechanism, may be found desirable or necessa inuse, and I desire it to be understoo that I reserve the right to makeall such changes and modifications as may be found desirable ornecessary, in-so-far as they may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the accompanying claims. 5

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: y

1. In a trap, a receptacle, a pair of movable electrodes in a normallybroken circuit,

and a passage-way leading to said electrodes, said e ectrodes beingmovable under the wei ht of the rodent to deposit the latter in t ereceptacle after electrocution.

2. In a trap, a receptacle, a pair of rotatable electrodes above saidreceptacle and forming a part of a normally broken circuit, saidelectrode being normally restrained against movement, and ,movable underthe weight of a rodent to deposit the latter within the receptacle, anda passage-we leading to said electrodes, a portion of eac electrodeforming substantially a continuation of the walls of the passage-way.

3. In trap, a receptacle, a pair of spacedapart electrodes forming partof a normally roken circuit, each electrode having a plurality offingers extending angularly to each other, means being provided fornormally retaining the electrodes in position where fingers of the twoelectrodes will extend in substantially the same plane, and a passagewayleading to the space between said electrodes.

4. In a trap, a receptacle, a pair of spacedapart electrodes formingterminals of a normally broken circuit, each electrode having '10 aplurality of fingers extendin angularly to each ot er, means for normaly retaining the electrodes in position where fingers of the twoelectrodes will project toward each other from the axis of rotation insubstan- 'tially the same plane, and a passagewav broken circuit, eachelectrode having sets of alining fingers, each set extending angularlyto each other, means being provided,- for normally retaining theelectrodes in position where fingers of the two electrodes will extendin substantially the same plane,

and a' passage leading to the space between said electrodes, said alinedfingers temporarily forming the bottom of the passageway.

6. In a trap, a receptacle, device comprising a plurality of rotatableelectrodes in normally broken circuit, and an entrance chamber abovesaid-device, said chamber having a tiltable bottom or platform adapteddevice in position whereby its weight will cause the electrodes torotate and discharge the rodent into the receptacle.

7. In a trap, a receptacle, an electrocuting device comprising aelectrodes in normally roken circuit, and an entrance chamber above saiddevice, said chamber having a tiltable bottom or platform adapted todeposit the rodent onsaid device in position whereby its weight will 11.

cause the electrodes to rotate and discharge the rodent into thereceptacle, said chamber "also having a member adapted to close thereturn path, said member being operated by movements of the tiltingbottompr platform.

8. In a tra a receptacle, a pair of rotatable electr es positioned abovethe receptacle and adapted to form terminals of a broken circuit, and avertical passageway above and leading to said electrodes and ada' ted toposition a rodent on the electrod es tocomplete the circuit through thebody of the rodent, said electrodes being normally held in relativelyfixed position and rotatable under the weight of the rodent thereon.

9. In a tra a receptacle, a pair of rotatable electrodbs above said recetacle and forming terminals of a normally roken cir- 1 fingers causingthe elec- 80 an electrocuting to deposit the rodent on said lurality ofrotatable cuit,said electrodesbeing normally restrained In testimonywhereof I alfix my signature against Tovefment and being; movable ilmderin the presence of two witnesses.

the Wei" 1t 0 a 1'0 ent to e osit the utter within the receptacle, and apassageway to MARION GOLD said electrodes for positively directing theWitnesses: rodent to a osition where its weight will ENGELBERT T.ROMEDER, operate the e ect-rodes. ALFRED VERZYZANOWSKY.

